Old Ulcinj. Resort town of Ulcinj in Montenegro Old Ulcinj

Ulcinj is the warmest resort in the south of the Montenegrin coast, bordering Albania. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to live in this place for a while. Despite the fact that the town is quite small, the entire territory of the Ulcinj Riviera is 255 km2. In my opinion, Ulcinj is not at all like other cities in Montenegro, it is a unique example of natural beauty and has its own flavor, like, probably, any city located on the border of mixing cultures. Looking ahead, I will say that it is here that the longest sandy beach in Europe is spread. Green-eyed Boyana, not the cleanest, but still a river with its own charm. Centuries-old olive groves and lush vegetation. It is also very warm here, since there is nowhere further south in Montenegro. Ulcinj is a city of medieval pirate tales, oriental flavor and European architecture.

How to get there

If you have already asked yourself the question: “How to get to the city of Ulcinj, Montenegro”, then I hasten to please you: this is not as difficult to do as it seems at first glance. Despite the remoteness of the city from the main airports of the country, the road from them, on average, will not take you more than two hours. Throughout the journey, you will be surrounded by amazing landscapes of resort Montenegro, such that time on the road will fly by unnoticed and in pleasure.

In addition to the options described below, you can also come to Ulcinj from Albania, the city of Shkoder, by car or bus, the ticket for which will cost 6€. Along the way, you will encounter the Sukobin border crossing, which is more like a toll booth. Here you simply check the documents and put a stamp in your passport. Everything goes very quickly, we didn't even get out of the car.

From Italy, you can take a ferry on the Bari-Bar or Ancona-Bar route. The ferry price varies from €40 to €250, depending on the class of accommodation and the season, so it is better to check the current price on the sites that sell tickets for these messages. You can get from Bar to Ulcinj by bus for 2€.

By plane

Ulcinj is the southernmost city in Montenegro, which means that getting there is not so easy. has 2 airports: in Podgorica, the capital of the country, and in the city, in its north. The distance from Ulcinj to each of the airports is approximately the same:

84 km - Tivat-Ulcinj;
77 km - Podgorica-Ulcinj.

Direct flights Moscow-Tivat are operated daily by such airlines as:

Aeroflot;
S7 Airlines;
Montenegro Airlines.

There are also direct flights St. Petersburg-Tivat, but it is better to check with the tour operator about their frequency or look in the search engine.

There is no direct connection between Russia and Podgorica, if you arrive at this airport, then most likely you are making a transfer flight.

The cost of tickets from the airports of Moscow and St. Petersburg largely depends on the season. On average, during the year, round-trip tickets will cost you around 15,000 rubles, while in the summer, tourist period, tickets for 20,000 rubles will be considered a real find, and their average cost per season will be 23,000-25,000 rubles. Therefore, take care of buying tickets in advance, for example.

You can get to the city of Ulcinj in one of the following ways:

by bus;
by private car;
by taxi.

By train

The train is not the most common form of transport in Montenegro, moreover, it is quite inconvenient. The country has only one railway line connecting Podgorica and, and, alas, we can’t get to Ulcinj by train.

By bus

If you, once at the airport in Tivat or Podgorica, decide to take a bus, be prepared for the fact that in both cases you will have to walk. All shuttle buses are passing through and do not go directly to either of these two airports. In this case, you will need to go to the track and catch the necessary transport there. All buses are quite comfortable and run every 30-40 minutes on average.

From Tivat to Ulcinj

In order to get from the airport, you need to go to the main road, it is called "Adriatic Highway" or "Jadranska magistrala", it's about 100 meters from the airport, then turn left, and about the same amount go towards the city. After passing this distance, you will find yourself at a stop, 2 yellow "mushrooms" will indicate this to you.

Wait for any bus right here and, as soon as you spot one, wave to the driver to stop. You can also catch a bus just by going to the track. Drivers are quite loyal to this, and in most cases they stop to pick up passengers.

The most important thing is to correctly determine the direction. Since you need to get to Ulcinj, stand at the stop from the airport side.

If there is no bus for a long time, you can walk in the direction of the city about 800 meters to the bus station of the city of Tivat. And from there take a regular bus to the desired city.

From Podgorica to Ulcinj

The procedure is almost the same as on the route from Tivat, but it will take a little longer to walk on foot, about 1.8 km to the main road. There is only one road, so you won't get lost. Just go straight until you cross the bridge and see a large supermarket in front of you. Alternatively, you can ask someone to give you a ride these 2 km. In order to take the bus towards Ulcinj, you need to go to the side where the supermarket building stands.

In both cases, be sure to check with the driver if he is going to the city we need, if everything is in order, feel free to pay for the fare, it's about 6.5 € in both cases, sit back and enjoy the views outside the window.

In the opposite direction, you act the same, except that you do not have to catch transport on the go, as buses in all directions depart from the Ulcinj bus station. The only thing, do not forget to warn the driver so that he makes a stop at the place you need.

In general, all drivers speak their native language, but phrases related to transport and the route are understood in English, and some even in Russian. In any case, don’t worry too much, you will definitely be able to find a common language with the driver or ticket attendant (we had one on the bus). To be sure, you can of course learn a few phrases, like:

Jedna karta do - one ticket to...
Da se zaustavi - make a stop.

By car

If you have a private car during your stay in Montenegro, then it will not be difficult to get to the place you need. Roads in Montenegro are in very good condition.

You can also rent a car. A representative of the company, at your request, will drive the car directly to the airport, and from there you can safely head to Ulcinj.

Rental prices vary greatly. It all depends on the class of the car, the company of the tenant and the rental period.

A middle-class car with an automatic transmission outside the tourist season will cost around 15€ per day, while in the summer this amount will rise to 30€.

A few tips to keep in mind when renting a car:

A car with a manual transmission is significantly cheaper than an automatic;
The longer the rental period, the lower the daily fee for the car;
Some rental companies provide a free car delivery service to the airport, and some do it for an additional fee;
Typically, rental companies, after the expiration of the rental period, take cars back at airports or large cities such as Kotor, or. But you can arrange with a company representative to pick up the car in Ulcinj for a fee. This can be more beneficial as you won't have to spend on gas and you won't have to think about how to get back.

The road will take you about 1.5 -2 hours.

On the route from Podgorica, on the section of the E80 motorway, you will meet a paid section of the road - passage through the Sozina tunnel, 4,189 meters long. By the way, it is considered the longest in Montenegro, and is a landmark of the country.

The fare on this section of the road for a car is 2.5 €.

The payment point consists of 6 gates with cashiers who work in both directions: that is, for entry and exit. He himself is located only on one, northern, side of the tunnel, closer to Podgorica.

Euros and bank cards are accepted as payment. You can also purchase a monthly subscription if needed. Cashiers give change easily even with large bills such as 200€ and 500€.

You can also choose a bypass route through the "Paštrovska Gora" mountain range.
The road in this section is a serpentine, and its length is 22.5 km more than the alternative. But the pass offers a beautiful view of the mountains and the sea coast.

Approximate price of gasoline:

95 - 1€/liter;
98 - 1.1€/litre;
diesel - 0.9 € / liter.

In addition, you can use the taxi service.

What is what, but there is certainly no shortage of taxi drivers in Montenegro. The average cost of a trip from the airport to Ulcinj will be 60-80€. You can take a taxi at the airport or order in advance on the website of the trucking company. There are a lot of them, and it will not be difficult to find a similar one. For example, we used the services of kiwitaxi a couple of times, quite conveniently.

The fare in a taxi, among other things, depends on the number of passengers, so it is not always profitable to cooperate with fellow travelers at the airport. However, if you are traveling alone by joining a group of two with a small amount of luggage, you have a chance to save on your trip.

Also, if you are coming from Ulcinj, you can ask one of the locals to order a taxi for you.

By ferry

Despite the fact that Ulcinj is a maritime city, there are no ferry connections with other major cities.

In Ulcinj there are a large number of motor boats and boats that can take you to the islands, hard-to-reach beaches and back for a small fee, you can negotiate the cost directly with the owner of the boat, but renting a yacht for the whole day will cost from 400 €. Additionally, you will need to pay for the services of the team, port fees, fuel and, if necessary, meals.

Clue:

Ulcinj - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Ulcinj is the warmest resort on the entire Montenegrin coast. Temperatures are above zero throughout the year, rarely dropping below 10°C.

The hottest months are from June to September, when the average air temperature is around 30°C. The swimming season can start as early as April and last until November.

During all these months, Ulcinj will delight you with the warm sea and the hot sun. Tours from Russia for this period can be picked up.

However, from an economic point of view, the summer months are the most disadvantageous time, since it is considered the tourist season and prices for housing and services rise by 2-3 times.

So, for example, rental housing, the cost of which during the year does not exceed 15 €, in the tourist season will increase to 40 € for sure.

The same applies to renting a vehicle in the summer. For 30€ per day you can rent the most modest economy class car or a car with a manual transmission, while, for example, in April you can rent a nice jeep or convertible for the same price.

The most optimal in this regard is September: the air temperature does not change sharply and stays around 27-30°C. However, the influx of tourists is significantly reduced, and prices are falling. Plus, by September, a large number of fruits and berries ripen, for example, pomegranates, which are still quite green in summer.

Ulcinj in summer

The period from July to August is the peak of tourist activity. Crowds of vacationers fill the resorts of Montenegro, and because of this, there is an increase in prices in almost all areas: food, accommodation, transport.

On the main resort beaches, it becomes more difficult to find a place to relax, and the radius of your personal space becomes smaller.

The average summer temperature in Ulcinj is around 30°C.

Ulcinj in autumn

Many mistakenly believe that the holiday season in Ulcinj, and indeed in Montenegro, ends with the summer. However, it is not. I think that September is, on the contrary, the best time to come here. There will be an order of magnitude fewer tourists, and the weather will still be sunny and friendly. In addition, the autumn time is a period of ripening of a large number of fruits, so in November it is quite possible to bask in the sun, sipping freshly squeezed orange or pomegranate juice, snacking on kiwi, hanging in clusters right from the veranda in your villa.

Ulcinj in spring

Ulcinj in winter

In winter, with an average air temperature of 10°C, you definitely won’t be able to sunbathe, although if you are tempered and the water temperature of 11-15°C does not scare you, you can swim all year round. Of all the seasons, winter is considered the rainiest, so be sure to bring a raincoat with you. But in the most "non-tourist season" you will get very good service in cafes and hotels. The waiters will be sincerely glad to see you, and they can even give you a compliment from the institution. Solana Lake is located a couple of kilometers from Ulcinj, and it is at this time of the year that you can see a huge number of birds flocking for wintering, including pelicans and even flamingos.

Ulcinj - monthly weather

Clue:

Ulcinj - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

Ulcinj is a resort city in the south of Montenegro. Despite the fact that this is a fairly calm and provincial town, its different areas differ significantly from each other. The vast majority of guest houses here, there are very few expensive tourist complexes and luxury hotels. But this is even a plus, since every tourist will be able to stay in the area that he likes. Personally, I prefer to look for hotels on, but you can compare prices from different sites.

The city itself can be divided into four large parts: Liman, Center, Old Town and the business district.

Liman

This is the northwestern hilly part of Ulcinj. There is practically no inexpensive housing on this side of the city, most of the buildings are cozy private hotels and villas, surrounded by olive groves and with panoramic views of the Adriatic coast. Some Liman hotels have private, uncrowded beaches, so the sea here is very clean. Prices in the local hotels are not very high, but above average along the coast.

For whom

for people who prefer a relaxing holiday away from fussy tourists.

Central part of the city

Despite the mountainous terrain, it does not differ in spacious streets full of air. There is a very dense building, and often one house immediately adjoins another wall to wall, spacious terraces and courtyards are a rarity. But the choice of housing here is very large. Private hotels, guest houses, hotels - all the local apartments have a fairly reasonable price. Within walking distance are a large number of cafes, restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and other joys of the resort industry. Also here is the promenade of the Small Beach and the market.

For whom

for families traveling with children;
old people;
for tourists who prefer accessibility and value for money.

Old city

A colorful area surrounded by medieval fortifications. The historical center of modern Ulcinj is a landmark of the city and a favorite place for tourists to walk. Prices for apartments here are much higher than in the central area, since the Old Town is one of the oldest architectural and urban units of the Adriatic, and a special urban landscape opens up from the walls of the fortress.

For whom

For aesthetes, connoisseurs of history and world culture.

Also in Ulcinj there is business district, it makes no sense to look for accommodation for a tourist in it, since it is located quite far from the main attractions, in the southern part of the city, about an hour's walk from the coastline. However, it is quite useful to know about its existence, since it is there that the bus station, post office, as well as offices of tourist and mobile operators are located.

Speaking about the districts of Ulcinj, one should also mention the Great Beach and the area of the island of Ada Bojana. Geographically, they are not part of the city, but, as a rule, they are always mentioned, since they are part of the Ulcinj Riviera.

great beach

It is a landmark not only of Ulcinj, but of the whole world, as it is the largest sandy beach in Europe. Its length is approximately 14 km, and its width is 60 meters. You will not find hotels on the coast itself, right off the coast, since capital construction is prohibited here. The predominant type of accommodation is camping. However, despite this, the coast is still partly the property of hotels located along the highway, and therefore all the amenities necessary for relaxation, such as sunbeds, playgrounds, changing rooms, showers and rescue towers, are available here.

For whom

For lovers of outdoor activities and camping.

Ada Bojana

An island of artificial origin, washed by the Bayana River on two sides, and the Adriatic Sea on the third. Rest in the resort itself is quite expensive, but always unforgettable.

You can also rent private accommodation (you can see offers), wooden houses are rented on both sides of the river, or live in a tent in a camping area, this will be a more budget option.

What are the prices for holidays

Vacation prices here are quite reasonable and, of course, largely depend on the season and on what level of comfort you prefer. For example, we managed to fit a monthly accommodation with travel, meals, transport and housing for 1000 € for two, and this is at the peak of the tourist season.

In my opinion, listing the cost of goods and services in a long list does not make sense, since prices can change. Here are some of the top ways you can save money:

Do not book accommodation in advance. Ulcinj has a huge number of private apartments and guest houses. Therefore, do not be afraid that you will stay on the street, although this is not a bad option. When you arrive, just walk the streets of the central district, go to private hotels and houses where rooms are rented, talk directly with the owners, and you will be able to save a lot.
Take a tent with you. Camping is very common on the beaches of the Ulcinj Riviera. For a couple of euros, you can stay in a tent camp with all amenities like a shower, toilet, and in some cases even electricity. You can also put up a tent on a wild beach absolutely free.
Plan your vacation. If you want to relax in the city and on the beaches in the vicinity, then do it consistently. Go to the beach for a couple of days and don't pay rent.
Do not rent a car for the entire stay. This advice is rather a continuation of the previous paragraph. Rent a vehicle either at the very beginning of your holiday, or vice versa at the end. Firstly, you will immediately no longer have a question of how to get from the airport to Ulcinj, or in the opposite direction, and secondly, you will just have a car to explore all the beaches in the area, and when you arrive in the city, you simply won’t need it .
Try to travel to the nearest beaches by hitchhiking, in Montenegro it is quite safe.
Buy food at restaurants or bakeries and drinks at the supermarket. The fact is that mid-level restaurants offering inexpensive food have a high cost of drinks, for example, ordering a burek or a large calzone for 1 €, in the same restaurant for a cup of espresso with a volume of 40-50 ml you will give 1.5 € -2 €.
If you have the opportunity to cook, then buy all the food in the markets or in the supermarket.
Make friends with locals or people who know the local language and ask them for simple favors: order a taxi, buy fish, suggest profitable places and much more. In Montenegro, as elsewhere: for their own cheaper.

Main attractions. What to watch

Old city

The area, the historical core of Ulcinj, which can also be conditionally divided into two parts: the lower and upper town, often called the "Citadel". This place may be of interest not only to avid tourists, but also to connoisseurs of classical literature, because it was here that Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish writer, was imprisoned, and it was this Citadel, according to legend, that inspired him to create the image of the beautiful Dulcinea, beloved of the legendary Don Quixote.

Also on the territory of the old city are Archaeological and Ethnic Museums.

In general, having visited this architectural ensemble, we did not regret at all, because in addition to museums and beautiful architecture, we saw the Turkish fountain of the 16th century, the city lighthouse and a magnificent panorama of the city.

Entrance to the old city is free for everyone, except for the territory with museums, here you have to pay 1 €.

olive grove

It is located near the walls of the old city. The olive garden can be called a city park or a pleasant place for leisurely walks. It is the symbol and spirit of the city.

It is no coincidence that in the very heart of the city, surrounded by three olive trees, there is a monument to millstones. After all, olives and oil are the pride of the townspeople.

And it is this place that can be called the central intersection that unites four main streets: the descent to the great beach and the old town, to the olive grove and Valdanos beach, to the exit from the city, to the Great beach and Ada Bojana.

Beaches. Which is better

I dare say that 80% of all attractions in Ulcinj are just beaches, and you can talk a lot about them. Having visited each of them, we were convinced that they are all completely different, despite the fact that they are located in the same strip of the Ulcinj Riviera. They differ in various ways: there are sandy and pebbly beaches, wild and with all the amenities for a comfortable stay, as well as hidden in small coves and huge ones with access to the open sea. One way or another, you will definitely find your beach here.

Conventionally, they can be divided into two main types:

City beaches

These include: Liman I, Liman II, Small Beach, Women's Beach and a series of private beaches owned by nearby hotels, such as: Skalic, Birici, Ludvig, Maslinjak, Borova Noise (Borova suma), Opalice (Opaljice), Dzhemina (Dzemina), Lyana (Ljana), Albatross (Albatros).

and country beaches

which include: Great Beach (Velika Beach; Velika plaza), Valdamos and Ada Bojana. You can read more about each of them in my article.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Ulcinj is a city on the border of two cultures, and hence religions. Here it is quite normal to hear the call to prayer resounding from the height of the minaret of some mosque to the sounds of Orthodox bells.

Sailor Mosque- the oldest mosque in the city, reconstructed in 2012, after being destroyed in the early twentieth century. It is located in the central area of Ulcinj, on the promenade of the small beach. Its minaret, due to its height and good location, is used as a lighthouse.

West of the walls of the old city is located saint's churchNicholas, it has been rising on this very spot since the end of the 19th century, its predecessor was the monastery of the Holy Archangel, the appearance of which dates back to the 15th century. It was built in memory of the fallen defenders of the independence of Montenegro. An interesting fact is that according to Turkish law, whose people besieged this city, not a single building in the city should have been higher than the minaret of the mosque. In order to circumvent this law, and make the church of St. Nicholas spacious, the builders resorted to tricks and erected the building deep into the earth. Another interesting fact about this building: at different times, an Orthodox church, a mosque and even a museum were located within its walls.

Ali Pasha Mosque built at the beginning of the XIV century in honor of the admiral who conquered the city, and named after him. It is located at the very walls of the old city. On its wall you can read: "for the happiness and prosperity of the people, to be for a long time", which is probably why this is the only place in the country where there is a hammam. Such is the allegory: "Don't worry people over trifles, but worry only in a traditional bathhouse."

Clock Tower and Bazaar Mosque Ottoman Empire. The tower got its name thanks to the Italian clock, specially brought and installed on it, to remind citizens that it was time for prayer or the beginning of the working day. The tower was a symbol of the captured city, and to this day is the embodiment of Turkish culture in the city.

Bregut Mosque- the largest in Ulcinj. Its construction dates back to the end of the 14th century, and is associated with the name of Captain Ahmet Juli.

In the walls of the old city you can see the ruins Churches of the Virgin, I don't know why, but this is probably not the best location for a church. After all, it was here that in different periods there were also the churches of St. Marko and St. John of Ulcinj, but all of them were destroyed for one reason or another.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

If you want to culturally enlighten yourself and arrange a tour of local museums, then you won’t have to walk much, since all the main ones are located almost in one place, within the walls of the old city.

Collection Archaeological Museum- these are antique objects found during archaeological excavations in Ulcinj and its environs. Interestingly, the museum is located in the building of the church of the mosque of St. Mary.

Ethnographical museum located in the former customs building. Its exhibits allow you to get a visual representation of the peoples who inhabited these places, their daily life, clothing and culture. Here, in tower Balchishi, exhibitions of artists, sculptors and even poetry evenings are held.

Entrance to the area where the museums are located costs 1€ per person.

tourist streets

We can say that there are two tourist streets in Ulcinj: central and perpendicular to it embankment of a small beach. Both have sidewalks, but are not considered purely pedestrian, in fact they are highways with little traffic. However, on the second of them during the tourist season in the evenings, from 20.00 to 1.30, access for motorists is closed.

The central street goes downhill and connects the business district and the embankment. On it there are shops, cafes and a large, by the standards of the city, grocery supermarket "Solaris".

The embankment of the small beach is a place of abundance of public catering. There are a huge number of cafes and restaurants, but by and large they all offer the same assortment. Just a huge number of people sitting idle on the concrete fence that separates the beach from the sidewalk, with their backs to the sea. Why they do this is a mystery to me.

Between these streets is a small market with all sorts of consumer goods. Here you can buy beach accessories, souvenirs, clothes and some other nonsense.

What to see in 1 day

If you are in Ulcinj for just a day, then the main thing you should do is to feel the atmosphere and color of this city.

Immediately upon arrival, at 10-11 o'clock, look into the old city, after all, a local landmark. I won’t say that a rich program awaits you here, but this place is very sincere. The citadel can also be called the observation deck of the city, because the center of Ulcinj is in full view from here. Being here, you can immediately feel what this city is like.

After enjoying the panorama of the city, go for a walk along the central promenade along the Small Beach. Here you can also have lunch in one of the many cafes, try some Ulcinj cuisine, such as burek or kadaif, or just eat local ice cream.

After lunch, let yourself relax and head to the beach. The most interesting are Women's Beach and Albatros Nudist Beach. I recommend that you choose one of them.

After 18.00, when the heat subsides, go to the observation deck, a hill in the central part of the city of Ulcinj, to see the panorama of the city from a slightly different angle. There is a concrete monument. This is a monument to freedom, according to the original plan, it was supposed to be a star, reminding residents of the day Ulcinj was liberated from German invaders. The monument itself is not of particular interest, since it was not completed to the end, but the views and a walk along the upper part of the central city are worth spending a little time on them.

All this is within walking distance, and you do not have to use transport.

What to see in the surroundings

In the area, the best thing to enjoy is nature. Visit Solana lake, this place is amazing in its beauty, since it is here that a huge number of birds flock to spend the winter. You know, these are the same "Warm Lands" known to us from childhood. Flamingos, pelicans and a large number of various birds fly here. Getting here is quite difficult. It used to be a state protected area, but now it is a private area. However, there are ways, for example, there is one that conducts excursions, or recruits volunteers to protect these places from poachers.

Or just go to one of the beaches, because they are what the southern Ulcinj coast is famous for.

Food. What to try

As they say: "How many people, so many opinions", but I personally advise you to definitely try Burek (Börek). This is a national dish of puff pastry stuffed with meat or cheese. Burek can be in the form of a round pie, or "sausage", twisted twice. In general, I liked that one and that option. This dish is rather dry, so it is usually served with yogurt, which tastes like sour cream, but more liquid. In restaurants, it is usually brought already chopped and poured with this very yogurt.

Burek is a fairly inexpensive pleasure, its cost in a restaurant is 1.5 €, and in local bakeries it can be found for 0.5 €.

There is also a burek with spinach, but it is not available in Ulcinj, the only time we managed to buy it was in Zabljak, in the local supermarket. So if you come across a burek with such a taste, do not miss the opportunity and immediately try it.

In Ulcinj, you can try Albanian dishes that are not found in all cities of Montenegro, such as kadaif (kanafeh) - a traditional dessert resembling baklava with a layer of fatty cream.

In addition, it is important to know that during the ripening season, certain fruits appear on the shelves in abundance and become many times cheaper. So, for example, spring is a paradise for lovers of kiwi and oranges, they are harvested twice a year, even in late autumn, along with pomegranates. As for summer, in June you can enjoy fresh berries: strawberries, cherries, cherries. July is just a fruit paradise, eat everything: plums, apples, mangoes, pears, apricots, green figs. But by August, among other things, the figs will already be soft, ripe and purple. Therefore, eat as much fresh fruit as possible, recharge with vigor and vitamins.

You can buy fruits in the city market. In addition, here you can find a lot of other tasty things: vegetables, herbs, milk, oils.

If you want to dine in a romantic setting with a beautiful view and feel the atmosphere of Montenegro, then you should visit the Antigona restaurant in the old town (Antigona restaurant). It is located at Stari Grad 40, Ulcinj.

The food here is quite tasty and the prices are reasonable. If you don’t particularly show off, then you can have dinner together for 18 € -25 €. However, if you start trying all sorts of delicacies, you can leave a more substantial amount.

In general, despite the prices, the atmosphere is still captivating. You can arrange a good evening for yourself, enjoying a delicious dinner, right on the outdoor terrace, breathing fresh air and admiring the panorama of the Adriatic coast.

Pizzeria "Grot" located on the main pedestrian street on the left side, if you stand facing the sea. Unfortunately, I do not remember the exact address, I can only say that this cafe is located above the Beki hairdresser. Be careful and you definitely won't miss it.

Just a pizzeria with a delicious assortment, but the interior is quite interesting, albeit caveman.

Budget

Most of the catering establishments in Ulcinj are fast food. To be honest, I am not a particular fan of such food, and moreover, I am an ardent supporter of a healthy diet. However, I can only say good things about such cafes: the price, taste and portion size are definitely pleasing.

It makes no sense to advise any specific cafes, since there are a lot of them, especially in the central part of the city, and in most cases they have exactly the same menu with identical prices:

1€ - Burek;
1€ -2.5€ - Burger;
2€-3€ - Shawarma;
0.5€ - 1€ - Big piece of pizza;
1€ - Calzone (very large and hearty);
1.5 € - National dish, reminiscent of a pancake pie;
3€ - for a portion of cevapcici of eight pieces with vegetables (meat sausages), you can order half a portion.

But in such establishments there is a little trick: the food in them is cheap, but the drinks are expensive, in comparison with the above prices. So, for example, a glass of fruit drink will cost 1.2 €, and coffee 2.5 €.

There are also small shops with pastries, they usually have a sign "Bakery" or "Pekara". Here you can buy all of the above without overpaying for the service. They usually have tables where you can eat freely, or you can take it with you.

In the evening, after 18.00, additional mobile carts selling ice cream, fried corn and freshly dug juices open on the embankment.

By the way, about the ice cream. It is very tasty and quite inexpensive, only 0.5 € per ball. And the flavors are incredible. Once I even ate facebook-flavoured ice cream, which was blue in color and resembled Booblegum gum.

Intermediate level

To be honest, I would not recommend any restaurants in terms of food or service. Especially middle class establishments. They fall short of the "luxury" category, but their prices for the most ordinary products are quite high. Let me give you an example: once in a restaurant I ordered a salad called "Paradise" worth 2.5 €. I won’t say that I expected a divine salad, but what they brought me, I expected to see even less. The fact is that "paradaz" in the local language means tomato, and my salad turned out to be an ordinary tomato cut into 4 parts and sprinkled with salt.

Soups, by the way, are rarely cooked in such establishments, so when ordering a first course for 1.5 € -3 €, be prepared for the fact that they will bring you a portion of instant soup from the nearest supermarket.

Expensive

Almost all establishments serving seafood can be classified as expensive restaurants. The price for them is very high, especially for fish, the cost of which can reach 45€ per serving.

Examples of such restaurants:

Dulcinea / Dulsinea (Old Town);
Lovac / Lovac (In the southern part of the city, between Ulcinj and the Great Beach);
Taphana / Taphana (Old Town);
Antigone / Antigona (Old city).

By the way, in the restaurants of the old city there is always a waiter who speaks Russian.

It is also important to know that often the cost is calculated by the weight of the fish that has not yet been cleaned, that is, having paid for 500 g, you will receive only 300 g.

Holidays

Traditional fair of schoolchildren- an event when small shops open on the embankment of a small beach selling souvenirs and fakes made by schoolchildren of the city. Oddly enough, it is held at the end of December, almost a week before the New Year holidays. The purpose of the fair is to raise funds for the needs of classes and demonstrate their talents, since in addition to souvenirs, children are preparing a cultural program: they sing and dance.

In general, fairs are quite common for Ulcinj, at the end of August, for example, we had a chance to visit the handmade fair of local craftsmen, which took place in the same place, on the city embankment.

Safety. What to watch out for

Ulcinj is quite safe. Once we even spent the night on one of the city beaches just in a sleeping bag, and, fortunately, no unpleasant situations happened to us here. However, as probably everywhere else, you should be careful and take care of your belongings, there are plenty of pickpockets everywhere.

I also want to draw your attention to the fact that almost all the infrastructure on the beaches is paid, and even if you see a lonely straw umbrella standing in its shade, you will most likely have to pay about 2.5 € to a person who came running in 15 minutes with cash register.

Things to do

Shopping and shops

You will definitely not find big malls or branded stores here. And people come to Ulcinj far from shopping. Even Italian things sold in many cities of Montenegro cannot be found here. There is a flea market in the city, it works only two days a week: on Tuesday and Friday. Here they sell all sorts of little things that have already served their own: old rags, car parts, helmets, indoor plants, homemade carrots and old coins. In general, if you are a lover of various kinds of antique trifles, then you can look here, suddenly you are lucky and you will find a real treasure. It happens.

Clubs, bars and nightlife

The whole city suffers from the lack of quality nightlife, Ulcinj is no exception. There are practically no such establishments as nightclubs, and those that exist finish their work already at around three in the morning. In the evening, the phenomenon of sitting on the concrete fence of a small beach, which I talked about earlier, becomes especially popular with tourists. Girls dress up in all the most beautiful things they brought with them and just sit in front of cafes and restaurants, maybe in the hope that they will be called there, I don’t know.

In the central beach area there are several establishments positioning themselves as nightclubs:

night club "Renome";
night club "Libertas";
night club "Galera";
disco bar "H2O".

As for me, they work more in the format of a provincial disco. But if you really want to dance, then it's there. There are no stretching lines at the entrance and strict face control here, you can even dance in beach shales, you are still at the resort.

extreme sports

On the entire Ulcinj coast, all conditions for active recreation are created. Water sports such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and diving are common here.

On the territories of the beaches there are even clubs specializing in a particular sport. If you want to highlight your vacation with extreme recreation, then join these clubs. This type of recreation is suitable even for a beginner, experienced instructors teach from scratch, the main thing is desire.

The cost of such an individual course (6-8 lessons) will be in the region of 300€-400€, or about 60€ per hour.

It is more profitable to rent equipment, for example, for kitering for the whole day, since the cost of such a rental will be approximately 90 €, while for an hour you can pay all 40 €.

In addition to all this, on the territory of the Great Beach there is a huge number of courts for tennis, volleyball, mini football and other things.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As in any city, in Ulcinj you can find a huge amount of banal souvenirs: magnets, bells, key rings, plates and other little things. But personally, I would advise you to please your loved ones with a gastronomic gift.

Olive oil and olives

The green and black olives here are different from what we are used to seeing in our supermarkets. Firstly, they are many times larger, and secondly, they are pickled here on their own. They also differ quite strongly in taste, home-salted olives have a bitter, but at the same time pleasant taste.

The olive oil here is natural, as it is produced nearby, in Bar, or it is pressed by local farmers.

There are three types of oil:

Extra Virgin - first pressing, 5€-8€ per 0.5 liter;
Virgin - second spin, 3€ - 5€ per 0.5 liter;
Ordinary - third spin, 1€-2€ per 0.5 liter.

Cheese

There are a lot of varieties of cheese here, for every taste: hard, soft, with olive oil or milk, with the addition of spices. The only advice I can give is: try everything, and decide for yourself which one you like best. By the way, it is quite possible to do this even at the time of purchase. At your local supermarket, you can ask and the clerk will cut you a piece of cheese to sample.

Prices are very different from 1€ to 15€ and more per kilo. So, for example, our favorite was soft curd cheese, costing 1.5 € per kilogram.

Prosciutto

Traditional Montenegrin dish. It is famous, for the most part, for its cooking technology. This is pork rubbed with coarse sea salt, then smoked on coals and dried in the wind. Sold as a whole piece, or cut into slices in almost any supermarket.

Price:

1.5 € -3 € - for vacuum-packed rod slices;
8€-15€ per kg.

Honey

In general, I think that honey is one of those products that you should try in all the places you visit. Since every time, personally, it surprises me with completely new tastes and aromas. in this regard is no exception. It is worth trying mountain honey on herbs. Also a very good purchase - a jar of nuts in honey. Pleasure is certainly not the cheapest: 1 € -2 € for a modest jar, but for something more or less decent size you will have to pay 6 € -10 €

Fruit

In the first place among the fruits that you should definitely take with you, I personally would put figs. Although, of course, it is better to eat it fresh immediately and on the spot, since it is very tasty, but you can grab dried one with you, for example. It costs basically 3€-7€ per kilo.

You can also take a pomegranate with you, especially if you leave Montenegro in the summer and did not have time to enjoy this magnificent fruit.

Wine

A bottle of Montenegrin wine will undoubtedly delight your loved ones with taste and quality, and you with a pleasant price. Local wine can be bought from 2€ per bottle. I don’t know much about wines, and I won’t recommend any particular brand, but I can say that I liked even the most inexpensive local wine. If anything, when buying, you can ask the seller for advice, he will be happy to help you decide.

Rakia

Montenegrin vodka rakia is a drink that is very popular among locals and tourists. It is much stronger than wine, and in terms of production technology it is close to moonshine on fruit or brandy, however, according to connoisseurs of this drink, it is much softer and more palatable, and also has properties that are beneficial to health.

The cost is from 18 € per bottle, maybe there is cheaper, but, unfortunately, we did not meet.

Don't worry, you can easily carry all this across the border even in hand luggage, except for oil and drinks, of course. They will have to be checked in as baggage, but I think you know this very well even without me. The only thing I want to draw your attention to is that, according to the rules of air baggage transportation, it is not allowed to carry alcoholic beverages in containers "not intended for retail trade." This means that if you buy homemade wine from locals and they pour it into a normal plastic mineral water bottle, chances are it will be confiscated from you. The border guards do not always pay attention to this, however, we encountered such a problem, though not in Montenegro, but at the Mineralnye Vody airport.

How to move around the city

The best way to get around the city is on foot. Firstly, because in Ulcinj, despite its small size, there are a lot of one-way roads, they are quite difficult to understand, and quite easy to get confused. Some of them can only be driven during certain hours. Secondly, as in most cities in Montenegro, the streets are very narrow, and the parking problem is very acute.

In the city itself, tourists usually move on their own two on or rented scooters.

Transport is used mainly to get to the beaches around the city.

Taxi. What features exist

There are almost no taxis to move around the city. Basically, a car is ordered in order to get to the resorts located in the vicinity of the city.

There are two types of taxi drivers: official ones, such as

+382 19766 - De Lux Taxi;
+382 19761; +382680–19761 - Kalaja taxi;
+382 19788 - Kalaja taxi;

And the so-called bombers. In general, we were not advised to travel with them, since there were cases when they took a much larger sum of money from tourists than the trip cost, twisted the counter, and resorted to other types of deception. Well, actually, we didn't go.

However, as an alternative to a car, there is also a water taxi. It is more popular with tourists and can deliver vacationers from the port on a small beach to neighboring resorts, and back for an average of 1.5 € - 3 € one way.

Buses

It is quite inconvenient to use a bus to move around the city, and there are practically no corresponding routes.

In Ulcinj, in the business district, about 40 minutes walk from the coastline, there is a bus station from where buses run in almost all directions. The current schedule and cost of the trip can be found right there, everything is clearly written on the information boards.

Transport rental

In general, if you decide to spend your vacation in Ulcinj, it is better to rent a car at the airport. Even more convenient is to book a car in advance (for example,). Then the question of how to get to the city and the nearest resorts will disappear by itself. We did just that. However, if you realized the need to rent a vehicle while already in Ulcinj, then you have 2 options:

Order a car from the tenant company with delivery to Ulcinj. The nearest such company is located in the city, at a distance of 21 km, and there are many more companies in all major cities of the country. The service of delivery or collection of a car is paid, its cost can vary from 30€ to 60€. Alternatively, you can pick up the car yourself, having reached the pick-up point by public transport.
Contact the Tourist Information Center. It is located on one of the central streets of the city leading to the embankment, next to a supermarket. There they can give you transport for rent, or tell you what to do if a suitable one is not available. The staff at this center do not speak Russian, but are fluent in English.

In general, renting a vehicle in Montenegro is not so difficult: you must have an international driver's license with you, and the driver's age must be at least 24 years old.

The cost, as mentioned earlier, depends on the season, car class and the number of rental days.

On average, car rental costs 25€-30€ per day + a deposit of about 300€. You can find cheaper if you deal with this issue in advance, study the offers of tenant companies, and book transport while still in Russia.

Probably the most important thing to understand is that renting a scooter is cheaper, on average, only 5 € per day, so if you are traveling more than one, a car will be a more budget option. I think this is due to the advantages in moving around the city.

From personal experience, I can say that traveling around Montenegro in a private car is very convenient. We booked a car in advance and asked to be taken to the airport for our arrival. An employee of the company, a friendly guy, in addition to everything, told us about the features of the traffic rules and routes in Montenegro. A ten-day rental cost us about 250€.

As I said earlier, in Ulcinj there are quite unusual routes for motor transport, and the roads, depending on the time of day or season, can be one-way, two-way, or even overlap. I was quite surprised that almost nothing was said about this on the Internet. Therefore, I will try to describe this moment in as much detail as possible, and you will pay attention to it if you plan to travel around the city by car.

So, for example, the section of the road in the upper part of the central district is one-way from June 1st to September 15th, the movement is carried out from the coastline of the city towards the business center. The rest of the time, from September 16 to May 31, motorists can freely drive in both directions.

The second, no less important point is that the promenade of the small beach during the tourist season is closed daily from 20.00 to 1.30.

Why it is important to know: the fact is that during the day this area is an ordinary highway. Most of the cafes located here have their own parking lots, where you can leave your car if you decide to have a bite to eat. There is also a parking lot where you will most likely leave your car if you decide to go up to the Old Town. All this is quite convenient, except for one "but!". If, due to ignorance, you do not have time to leave this territory before 20.00, then you will not be able to do this until 1.30 at night, and you will find yourself in a trap. This is especially unpleasant if you come from another city for a day just to see the sights of Ulcinj.

If you know that you won’t have time to leave before 20.00, then it’s best to park your car somewhere else without passing through the territory of the market, since this is where the road is blocked, it looks like this:

Be careful not to get into trouble.

Continue your travels

When leaving the city, a surprise awaits you, from here you can go wherever you want, by the way, have you already decided where? :)

Have something to add?

In the article I will tell you everything I know about the sights of Ulcinj: the Old Town, temples, mosques and just interesting places to visit while relaxing in this Montenegrin resort and a short trip here from another city. The first and main attraction of Ulcinj is the Old Town. It is not as big as in Budva and even more so in Kotor, but it also deserves attention. Let's start with him.

Old Ulcinj

The old town of Ulcinj is located on the western cape that limits the Small Beach (). Here stands the Citadel or Calaya Castle, first built by the Illyrians and the ancient Greeks. Since the founding of the city, the castle has been rebuilt many times, but now it looks neat.

The citadel occupies the territory in the upper part of the Old City, and the Lower City is located closer to the sea. At the top, I advise you to find the Balsic Tower, it stands next to the entrance. In 1672-1676, Shabtai Zvi lived in the Tower, built by the Balshichis as a summer residence. In 1666, the Jewish false messiah converted to Islam in the Tower, and a year later he died under the name of Mehmet Efendi. Now it's an art gallery.

Also on the territory of the Citadel is an archaeological museum, which contains the main material attractions. Ulcinj located the halls of the museum in the building of the Church of St. Mary of 1510. In 1693, the Christian church was turned into a mosque, and after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it was abandoned. Now in the museum you can look at finds dating back to the Bronze Age, jewelry, weapons.

In the Lower Town, monuments from the times of the Venetian and Turkish rule have been preserved. Take a look at the 15th-century Venice Palace, where the governor used to live. Now you can also live here in the building. The Lower City is also worth a stroll for the views of the bay and ancient mosques.

Finally, Old Ulcinj is worth just walking around. Admire the expanses of the sea that open from its walls, take a picture on the stone steps in one of the narrow streets, meet the sunset on the platform near the archaeological museum. Feel free to look into all nooks and crannies. Even a detailed study of the Old City will take a maximum of 2-3 hours, usually it takes an hour and a half to get to know each other.

Other attractions of the resort

Market Ulcinj

The market in Ulcinj is a real oriental bazaar, with a huge selection of fruits, meat, fish, olives and spices, olive oil, dried fruits, cheese, milk, oriental sweets.

If you want to experience the whole gamut of sensations of the East, visit the Ulcinj market. As the locals say, you will not only please the eye with beautiful things and jewelry, but also get all the skills of a skilled and demanding buyer.

About all the main attractions of Ulcinj, he seemed to tell. It remains to mark them on the map so that it is more convenient for you to explore the city.

Attractions Ulcinj on the map

Attractions around Ulcinj

- a natural salt pan in the past and a bird sanctuary in the present, where you can meet a lot of crabs (100%) and pelicans with flamingos (if you're lucky).

Valdanos beach is surrounded by the delightful Ulcinj olive forest, which gives this place a special atmosphere. According to rough estimates, the total number of olive trees in this forest exceeds 74 thousand copies. Throughout its history, Valdanos Beach has been the largest Eastern European camping center: many tourists have visited here with their tents and mobile homes. There are also modest cozy bungalows, restaurants and cafes where you can always dine with various local dishes.

The water here is clear and dark green in color. Valdanos is one of the favorite places for fans of diving and sailing.

Small city beach

On the coast of the Adriatic Sea there is a glorious city with a rich history - Ulcinj. In addition to many architectural monuments, Ulcinj offers its guests to relax on amazing beaches. One of these is the Small City Beach, which in aggregate is the main one. The beach is not big at all, its length does not exceed 400 meters. But the unusually picturesque views that open from its sands, as well as the amazing blue-green color of the water, invariably attract many tourists. At the peak of the season, the Small City Beach can accommodate up to 2,500 vacationers.

By nature, the Small City Beach has an elevated radioactive background. But this is not at all scary, and on the contrary, it is useful. Rest on this beach is recommended for people with chronic joint diseases.

What sights of Ulcinj did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Sakhat-Kula clock tower

The Sahat-Kula clock tower is a Turkish tower located in the Montenegrin capital. Sakhat-Kula is a national monument, which is under state protection.

The tower was created in the 17th century during the reign of the Ottoman Empire and was considered the main symbol of the captured city. From the moment of its construction, it has been completely preserved to our time, even despite the devastating bombardments of its environs during the Second World War.

The total height of the tower is sixteen meters. At the top of the tower is a high metal cross. On Sakhat-Kul there are special clocks that were brought here from Italy. For several years they served as the only source of correct time in the city. Every half an hour there was a loud ringing of the bells located on the tower.

Until now, the tower is a symbol of the Turkish quarter in the city. Next to it is the central city square.

The market is located in the Old City. The market in Ulcinj is a real oriental bazaar. You will hardly find such a number of bright souvenirs and jewelry anywhere else in Europe. And the local craftsmen are real experts in their field.

The local market is famous for its truly fabulously rich selection of jewelry made of gold, silver, and platinum. Jewelry by Ulcinj craftsmen is valued not only for the highest quality and beauty of products, but also for affordable prices. Seeing such diversity and beauty in front of you, it is very difficult to leave without a purchase. So, stepping into the territory of the market, be prepared for unplanned expenses. In any case, you will get a lot of pleasure both from walking around the market and from shopping, because local merchants know how to be attentive and sensitive to the wishes of buyers.

This market is also famous for natural food products: olives, olive oil, dried fruits, cheese, milk, oriental sweets, etc.

big beach

The most famous place in Ulcinj is the Big Beach (Velika Plaza), which has a length of 13 km and is marked with the "Blue Flag" - the symbol of the European Environmental Association. With its size, it is not surprising that even in the midst of the tourist season, you can always find enough free space here. This beach is one of the largest sandy beaches in Montenegro. The finest volcanic sand, which gives the beach a dark shade, caresses the feet like a luxurious carpet. The large beach receives the most sunlight as it is not covered by mountains. It sounds tempting, but there are also small disadvantages: it must be borne in mind that the smallest, weightless grains of sand rise into the air with the slightest breeze, sticking everywhere, including clothes and food. Due to the dark color of the sand, it also heats up very much and it can be not very easy to walk barefoot on it in the middle of a sunny summer day.

The sea here is quite shallow, and in order to get to a depth that allows you to swim, you first have to go through shallow water for several tens of meters. Everything from Ulcinj to the island of Ada Bojana is a resort place, where numerous shops, markets, restaurants and restaurants are open during the season. Noisy oriental bazaars give a special flavor to these places. On the southern part of the beach, there are often strong winds and big waves. It is here that fans of surfing and kiting come together, as well as those who want to learn how to manage a yacht or a catamaran. On the beach there is a kite school with Russian instructors for all kite surfers.

Ruins of the city of Svacha

22 km from the city of Ulcinj, there is the Shasskoye Lake. But not only it attracts tourists. People come here to see a historical monument located on the shore of the lake - the ancient city of Svach, or rather, its ruins.

The emergence of a settlement here in the 6th century is associated with the name of Emperor Justinian. Since 1183, Svač became part of an independent Serbian state headed by the ruler Stefan I Nemanja, who declared the independence of Serbia from Byzantium. During his reign, the territory of the Serbian state expanded significantly. He became the founder of the Nemanich dynasty, which ruled Svach until the Mongol invasion in 1242. The further history of the city is connected with the name of St. Elena, Queen of Serbia, Princess of Anjou, as a token of love for whom the king ordered to plant blooming lilacs throughout the Ibar River valley. Elena patronized Svacha, thanks to her the city flourished and strengthened.

There is a legend that there were only churches here according to the number of days in a year: the ruler of Svach, captured by enemies, had a devoted wife who redeemed her husband from captivity and built 365 churches in the district as a token of gratitude for his salvation. Further progress of the city is associated with the period of the Venetians. In 1571, Svach was captured by the Turks, Bishop Martin won the battle for the city in 1610, but this battle destroyed it. The match never rose from the ruins, and the destruction has been going on ever since. But the ruins of the fortress wall and the skeletons of several churches remained. The largest of the surviving city temples dates back to the beginning of the XIV century. Tombstones of Bishop Mark (1262) and Bishop Peter (1284) were found near the western facade.

The tourist can only imagine what this city could be like at the time of its heyday.

Old Ulcinj

In the 5th century BC, Colchian colonists built a fortress on the rock, around which the city began to grow. The history of the city of Ulcinj, like many other cities in Montenegro, is the history of an endless change of rulers (it was ruled by the Byzantines, the Venetians, and the Turks) and, accordingly, names. The Romans named it Olcinium. The Venetians gave him the name Dulcino.

During the Turkish domination, the city was chosen by sea robbers. Production from captured ships was the main source of income for local residents. The slave trade was also in use: people from captured ships were taken prisoner and sold in the Ulcinj market. There is not a very reliable legend that the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, captured in one of the naval battles, languished in captivity for five years in Ulcinj. And that he gave the Venetian name of the city to Dulcinea, the well-known heroine of the novel Don Quixote, and her wonderful image itself was copied from one of the local aristocrats. True, Cervantes himself in his writings claimed that he was a prisoner in Algeria, but this does not make the legend any less beautiful. But it is reliably known that Mahmud Efendi, famous for his peculiar interpretation of the Talmud, lived in the Balsic tower in old Ulcinj in the 17th century. This tower now houses an art gallery.

The architecture of the Old City, which has changed hands many times, as a result is sometimes a completely unexpected mixture of styles and eras, a striking example of this is the mosque rebuilt from the church, not far from which there is a small square where slaves were once traded and where it is now located. city Museum. There are two palaces in Ulcinj, erected during the Venetian rule - these are the Palazzo Venezia and the Balsic Yards. The palaces have now been reconstructed, and they house quite modern comfortable hotels.

Shatskoe (Shasskoe) lake

Almost every historical place in Montenegro is associated with some kind of legend. There is such a legend at Lake Shas. It is said that Vladimir, one of the first rulers of Montenegro, voluntarily surrendered to the Bulgarian conqueror Simeon II in order to save his people. In captivity, the king was tortured, and from severe torture he was blind. But the daughter of Simeon fell in love with him, a blind captive, and, in order to save him, she married him, and in order for her beloved to see, she vowed to build 365 churches, one a day for a year. And it was near Lake Shasskoye that the devoted wife built the promised temples. True, it is not known whether Vladimir regained his sight after this, but the story is good without an idyllic ending.

The remains of eight of these temples can be observed even now, having arrived at Lake Shasskoe, at the ruins of the ancient city of Svach. But not only the legend knows this lake, the second largest after Skadar. The lake is of glacial origin, it is located in a mountain basin and its height above sea level is only 1 meter. During the flood, it overflows strongly, and its area increases from 3.7 sq. km to 5.5 sq. km. The greatest depth of the lake is 8 meters. The shores on the northern and eastern sides were densely overgrown with reeds, water lilies and water lilies.

Here is a real paradise for migratory birds, and the water is teeming with a variety of fish. The lake is not very suitable for swimming, but fishing here can be a great pleasure. The silence, broken only by the voices of birds and the splashing of the waves, and the feeling of isolation from civilization and unity with nature plunges you into a state of serene peace and relaxation.

Tourist area Liman

Tourist area Liman is an area located on the outskirts in the western part of Ulcinj.

In the early 2000s, many land plots in the Liman region were purchased mostly by Russian tourists. A large number of comfortable villas and cottages were built here, which are currently rented out to vacationers at an affordable price.

In the Liman area, you can relax on small cozy beaches covered with small pebbles. The water here is unusually clean and transparent, having a turquoise color at a depth.

Liman is also a great place for diving.

Antigone Restaurant

Restaurant Antigona is located in the old part of Ulcinj and specializes in fish dishes.

Restaurant Antigone is a family business. Perhaps that is why a special almost homely comfort and cleanliness reigns here. Contrary to the name referring to Ancient Greece, the establishment specializes in fish dishes, which are prepared tasty and original only from freshly caught fish.

The restaurant has a nice guesthouse. And the location of the institution in the historical part of the city near the beach is very convenient for tourists. Also, Antigone takes part in organizing sightseeing trips around Montenegro.

Grid lake

The lake is located on the border between Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo in the town of Plav-Gusinje. Grid Lake is one of the highest lakes in the area, known as "mountain eyes" and is located at 1970 m above sea level.

This lake is formed by underground waters and glaciers partially melting on the tops of the mountains, flowing into it in its western part. The water temperature in the lake does not exceed 16-18C in July and August. And the air temperature near the lake is 17-21C.

This lake is quite attractive for anglers: it is rich in trout. So, if you decide to fish in silence and away from civilization, you won’t find a better place. Since the places are wild and people rarely come here, you can often meet wild animals here: bears, hares, wolves, wild boars, etc.

You can swim in the lake. There is no exact data regarding its depth, but in the coastal zone it is approximately 5 m. The lake itself is small. The lake is 295 m long and 155 m wide. The bottom of the lake is rocky, and the water is so clear that in some places you can see the bottom.

If you want to relax in a quiet and peaceful environment alone with nature, then the path to Grid Lake is the best route for you.

The most popular attractions in Ulcinj with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Ulcinj on our website.

Ulcinj is the southernmost city of Montenegro, located near the border with Albania on beautiful hills with rich Mediterranean vegetation. Here is a record number of sunny days per year for the entire Montenegrin coast of the Adriatic - as many as 217.

Picturesque, like almost all coastal cities of Montenegro, Ulcinj has its own special face, its own special flavor. People appeared on the territory of this city in the Bronze Age, the settlement was founded in the 5th century BC, during its long history the city was both a stronghold of piracy and the slave trade, and part of the Venetian Republic, and was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Each of these eras has left its mark on the city and its historical and architectural monuments, which are concentrated in the Old Town.

How to get there

From the airports of Tivat and Podgorica to Ulcinj can be reached by bus through Bar or Budva.

Search for flights to Podgorica (nearest airport to Ulcinj)

The beaches of Ulcinj

Ulcinj and its beaches are one of the most attractive areas for recreation in Montenegro. The Ulcinj coastline stretches for more than 30 km, from the confluence of the Bojana River into the Adriatic Sea to the Old Ulcinj Cape, and includes the well-known Big Beach and Small Beach. In the mountainous part of the Ulcinj Riviera, Valdanos Beach and 18 picturesque bays are located. Due to its geographical position, it is this part of Montenegro that boasts the warmest sea, the largest number of sunny days per year and the largest variety of subtropical vegetation.

There is not a single factory or plant for 100 km around Ulcinj.

The most famous local beach is Bolshoy, it stretches for 13 km and ends on the island of Ada-Boyana - the most famous nudist rookery in Europe. There are also several kitesurfer stations constantly operating on the coast.

The most beautiful panorama of the Old Town is the one that opens from the Small Beach. The name of the beach speaks of its size (its length is about 400-600 meters), but not of its significance for tourists. The beach is sandy, the sand is silky and healing, it has an increased natural radioactive background, and therefore has a beneficial effect on patients with rheumatism. In addition, due to natural factors, sea water near the coast is highly mineralized, and in combination with climatic factors, this creates an aerosol curtain along the sea edge, which is very useful for the treatment of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Hotels

Ulcinj hotels are ready to offer their guests accommodation of various levels, but most of them are small boarding houses and apartments.

By the way, the cost of living in Ulcinj is the lowest compared to other resorts in Montenegro.

There are very few apartments directly in the Old Town, and living there is not so convenient - it is deserted in the evenings, not close to the beaches. In the city, when choosing a hotel or boarding house, pay attention to the location - the resort is very mountainous, and even 500 m to the beach can turn into a "pleasure" walk up the mountain, especially in the sun. The average cost of apartments is 30-50 EUR per day, depending on the season.

Ulcinj Restaurants

The doors of many cafes, restaurants and bars are open almost around the clock: they all work "until the last customer". The menu is usually based on local products, very fresh and tasty. As in other seaside cities, there are many restaurants offering a wide variety of seafood dishes.

Most of the tourist cafes, which is not surprising, are located on the embankments - here you can taste both Montenegrin cuisine (chevapchichi, splash, traditional chorba and shopska salads, bureks), and Albanian. The closer to the center of the embankment, the more expensive the establishments.

Entertainment and attractions of Ulcinj

The Old City is divided into two parts - the Upper City (Citadel) and the Lower City. The citadel is not only a historical place, it has firmly entered into classical literature: it was here that the great Spanish writer Cervantes was imprisoned, it was here that he created the image of Dulcinea (the girl from Ulcinj), who, as you know, was adored by the legendary Don Quixote.

The Old City also entered the history of religion: in the middle of the 17th century, the famous Talmud expert Shabtai Zvi lived here. Studying the Talmud, a sacred book for the Jews, he came to a paradoxical decision: he converted to Islam under the name of Mahmud Effendi. In general, many knowledge is many sorrows...

Since the city passed from one ruler to another many times, its architectural appearance is a rather motley picture, in which, nevertheless, Muslim motifs prevail. The most striking illustration of the interweaving of cultures is the city's Historical Museum, which is now located in a former mosque, which, in turn, was rebuilt from a church. Particular attention should be paid to the Palazzo Venezia, the Balsic Palace and the exotic Oriental Bazaar, known throughout the coast.

Rest in Ulcinj

Skadar lake

Not far from Ulcinj is the world famous Skadar Lake, which everyone who comes to rest in Montenegro strives to visit. The lake is very beautiful, with diverse, swampy shores in places. It is very interesting for those who like to observe the life of birds, many of which are rare. A dam was built in the northwestern part of the lake, which is the pride of the country and the embodiment of modern construction technologies. It is through it that the highway and the Belgrade-Bar railway line pass. On the shore of Lake Skadar is the Albanian city of Shkodra with an ancient fortress, only 40 km from Ulcinj by motorway.

Weather in Ulcinj

The swimming season lasts from April to November, in summer the water temperature often exceeds +26 °C.

The southernmost region of Montenegro, where the beach season lasts a record 7 months for the country, is the city of Ulcinj. Montenegro has long attracted Russian tourists with visa-free entry, beautiful nature and, importantly, low prices. Indeed, you can relax there much cheaper than in other European countries.

The nature of Ulcinj is unusually good. Lush vegetation covers most of its area. He himself is located on several hills. Like the whole of Montenegro, Ulcinj, whose reviews of the sights do not leave indifferent, has a rich history. Hence the abundance of cultural monuments and historical values. The history of the city began more than 25 centuries ago. Then people settled here for the first time. The city was a port of pirates, then for a long time it was famous as a center for the slave trade. For some time Venice ruled over it, and after each of these periods left its mark on the architecture of Ulcinj. The length of the city's beaches is 30 kilometers. Like the rest of Montenegro, Ulcinj (reviews from tourists confirm this) has a clean coastline that connects to the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea.

The city itself is divided into 2 parts: Old and New Ulcinj. The main attractions are concentrated in the Old part, which, in turn, is divided into the Upper and Lower Town. There are traces of the long-standing domination of the Ottoman Empire - and the local museum, which was once a Turkish mosque.

The most unusual is Ada Bojana. This is an island that was once formed from right in the middle of the river. The current brought a large amount of sand here, and the ship turned into a piece of land.

Beautiful beaches - that's what attracts Montenegro. Ulcinj, reviews of which are filled with admiration, is known for two such beaches: Big and Small.

The first is one of the largest in the whole country, it stretches for 12 kilometers. And Small, or as the locals call it Korzo, is a small bay in the center of the city. This is where the whole nightlife is concentrated. Bars and restaurants, clubs, places of entertainment - there is everything you need for a big company to relax.

Climate Ulcinj

The best time to visit here is summer. The average air temperature is +27 degrees, the sea warms up to +26 ° C. In summer, there is practically no rain here. True, you can spend a good vacation and sunbathe here already in April, and the beach season ends in the last days of autumn. In this grow kiwi, peaches, apricots, olives, figs, almonds and many other fruit plants. In general, the flora of the city is very diverse.

The favorable location of the city has made it popular with tourists. It attracts people, perhaps even more than the rest of Montenegro. Ulcinj (reviews about it are sometimes contradictory, but mostly positive) is not only a beach holiday, but also a cultural holiday. Excursions to historically significant places of the city will not leave anyone indifferent. When all this can be combined with discos, clubs, the beach, admiring the beauties of nature, there is nothing more valuable.